Tag: muslim background

Please pray for Christians in United Arab Emirates – World Watch List #26

Peanut Gallery: I’ve fallen behind Open Doors’ posting of their weekly World Watch List update. So the plan is to post an update on Monday and Thursday until I catch up (they are on wk 30). Of course, you can go directly to their USA (here) or UK (here) website any time for the latest information and much more.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (Wikipedia) – World Watch List #26 (Open Doors UK)

united_arab_emirates_mapPopulation: 8.1 million (400,000 Christians)
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Federation
Source of Persecution: Islamic extremism

Around 80 per cent of the population here are expats. The constitution provides for some religious liberty, but the law denies Muslims the freedom to change religion. Muslim-background believers may be pressured to return to Islam, hide their faith or leave the country. Non-Muslim groups can worship freely in dedicated buildings or private homes, but the government restricts the development of worship facilities for foreign Christians. Open evangelism is prohibited, but Christians in the country have many opportunities for Muslim–Christian dialogue.

PLEASE PRAY:

  • There are very few local believers. Pray for opportunities to meet for fellowship
  • That Christians will make the most of every opportunity to share the gospel
  • For Open Doors partners providing support and training to expat Christians.

PERSECUTION DYNAMICS:

UAE womanThe United Arab Emirates is one of the most liberal countries in the Gulf. The constitution provides for religious freedom on the condition that established customs, public policy or public morals are not violated. Expats enjoy some freedom but also face restrictions, especially migrant workers from developing countries. Evangelism is prohibited, but non-Muslim groups can worship freely in dedicated buildings or private homes. However, the government places restrictions on the development of worship facilities for Christian migrants.

Muslim-background believers suffer the most persecution. All citizens are defined as Muslims and the law denies Muslims the freedom to change religion under penalty of death. To avoid death, social stigma or other penalties, converts may be pressured to return to Islam, to hide their faith or to travel to another country where their conversion is allowed.

Though the Arab Spring did not have much effect in the United Arab Emirates, the latest developments in the Middle East have led the local people to question what good leadership is.

UAE-kidsTOP TEN THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE UAE (what life is like for Christians)

  1. Around 80 percent of the population here are expats
  2. The constitution provides for some religious liberty, but the law denies Muslims the freedom to change religion.
  3. Muslim Background Believers may be pressured to return to Islam, hide their faith or leave the country.
  4. Non-Muslim groups can worship freely in dedicated buildings or private homes, but the government restricts the development of worship facilities for foreign Christians.
  5. Open evangelism is prohibited, but Christians in the country have many opportunities for MuslimChristian dialogue.
  6. Though there are some expat Christians, there are very few indigenous believers.
  7. The constitution and laws are fairly new, as the UAE gained its independence in 1971.
  8. The UAE is often seen as one of the most Westernized and liberal countries in the Middle East, but there are still a great number of restrictions for religious minorities.
  9. Since 2006, the standard weekend has been Friday and Saturday. This was established as a compromise between the Muslim holy day (Friday) and the Western weekend (Saturday and Sunday)
  10. Emirati typically wear a kandura, which is an ankle-length white tunic. Many Emirati women wear an abaya, which is a black over-garment, covering most parts of their body

Please pray for Libyan Christians: Libya #17 World Watch List

Persecuted Church in LIBYA – World Watch List #17 (Open Doors UK)

libya-mapLIBYA (Wikipedia) –
Population: 6.5 million (35,000 Christians)
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Transitional government
Source of Persecution: Islamic extremism

Muammar_al-Gaddafi_at_the_AU_summitDuring Gaddafi’s reign, the main source of persecution was the government and its secret services. Today opposition comes from the family, community and fanatical armed groups. But it is still forbidden to import Arabic Scriptures or to evangelise. There is no central government and the rule of law is absent, so Islamist extremist movements like the Salafists are able to perpetrate violence upon believers. Because of the civil unrest, 75 per cent of expat Christians have left the country.

PLEASE PRAY:
Libya_Jihad

  • For strength for secret Christians; they are forbidden from meeting together
  • For a stable government that rules wisely and with justice
  • Give thanks that Christian programmes on TV, radio and the internet are generating growing interest in the Christian faith.

PERSECUTION DYNAMICS

Libyan Arab
Libyan Arab

Under Gaddafi’s rule, conditions for Christians were extremely harsh and Libya did not even have a real constitution. The feared and omnipresent secret police made sure restrictions on church activities and distribution of literature were enforced and evangelism criminalised. Muslim background believers were always at risk from their families and most Libyan Christians were afraid to meet as any kind of religious gathering was forbidden. Expats were allowed churches but Libyans were not allowed to attend.

The Libyan revolution has not brought Christians protection and freedom
The Libyan revolution has not brought Christians protection and freedom

The revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia gave Libyans the courage to fight Gaddafi, but despite this leading to Gaddafi’s death, it is feared that the future will be worse. Because of the unrest, an estimated 75 per cent of expat Christians have left the country. The National Transitional Council, who took over after Gaddafi, have repeatedly announced their intent to implement a ‘democracy according to Sharia’ in Libya, in which all citizens are already considered Sunni Muslim by law.

The main sources of persecution today are family, community, fanatical armed groups and, to a lesser extent, the government. To import Arabic Scriptures remains strictly forbidden and proselytising and missionary activity is officially prohibited. Many Libyan Christians are fleeing their homeland. It is unlikely that the situation will change, even with a new constitution.

ANECDOTAL REPORT / REQUEST FOR PRAYER:

Sherif is Egyptian, running a bookshop in Benghazi, in the East of Libya. He was arrested on February 10th and has been detained since then. During his detainment he has been physically abused, while there is no official charge against him, nor has he appeared before court.

Recently, some Egyptians and three non-Arab workers have also been arrested. Continue reading “Please pray for Libyan Christians: Libya #17 World Watch List” →

Please pray for Christians in Uzbekistan – World Watch List #16

Persecuted Church: UZBEKISTAN – #16 on World Watch List (Open Doors UK)

Uzbekistan Political Map of Central Asia
Uzbekistan
Political Map of Central Asia

UZBEKISTAN (Wikipedia)
Population: 28 million (208,500 Christians)
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Authoritarian (republic)
Source of Persecution: Dictatorial paranoia/Organised corruption

The regime will do anything to stay in power, so no religious activities outside state-controlled institutions are allowed.

The Russian Orthodox Church has more freedoms, but evangelical Christianity is seen as a destabilising element that needs to be eradicated. Churches live in fear of raids, termination of services, confiscation of literature, and the imposition of heavy fines, which are frequent and increasing. Church members face harassment, detention and arrest for holding private prayer meetings or possessing illegal literature.

PLEASE PRAY:

Tohar Haydarov
Tohar Haydarov
  • That God will strengthen and encourage Christians under pressure on many fronts
  • That larger Christian groups will find ways to gather for worship or training
  • For Tohar Haydarov, imprisoned in 2010 for ten years, on trumped-up charges.

PERSECUTION DYNAMICS:

Uzbekistan womanSystemic corruption is rife in Uzbekistan and anyone opposing this, as Christians do, comes under pressure. Muslim-background believers face pressure from family, friends and community and are perceived as bringing shame to the community. The importation of Scripture is hindered, churches require compulsory registration and there are again frequent and increasingly heavy fines for conducting services or possessing material.

The future is unlikely to see improvement for believers, with an expected transition in leadership in coming years and the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan in 2014, which could lead to an influx of Islamic extremists. Uzbekistan also has the highest number of political prisoners among all former Soviet Union states (estimated between 5,000 to 10,000). If those prisoners – frequently imprisoned on true or alleged terrorist charges – are released, this could further fuel sentiment against the Christian minority.

ANECDOTAL REPORT: 

Lena, Ayoub and Latife faced intense persecution when the police had found Christian materials in Ayoub’s father’s house. Police arrested him and Ayoub’s brother, and then took Lena to the police station, where they were all questioned. They were also looking for Ayoub to arrest him as well. Continue reading “Please pray for Christians in Uzbekistan – World Watch List #16” →